THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503250364
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: EMPORIA LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
A Greensville Correctional Center guard charged with assaulting an inmate was acquitted by a jury that deliberated less than 10 minutes.
The guard, Michael A. Lynch Sr., nodded his head several times and smiled on hearing the verdict Thursday.
He was among 13 Greensville Correctional Center officers and four inmates indicted last year on felony charges centering on allegations that guards beat prisoners or directed inmate goon squads to beat them.
The prosecution maintained that Lynch beat Daniel L. Gibson with his fists while the inmate was handcuffed in August 1993.
The defense argued that Lynch didn't beat the prisoner and that he acted properly after Gibson cursed and kicked at him.
Lynch's attorney, Stephen A. Bryant, said the only witness to the alleged assault was Gibson, a felon. Bryant said in his closing remarks that there was ``no evidence - believable, credible evidence'' that Lynch assaulted Gibson. by CNB